Broncos showing improvement on third down

Coach Vance Joseph credits Trevor Siemian for conversions

Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian rolls out against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter on Sunday at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. (Joe Amon / The Denver Post)

ENGLEWOOD — The caveat spilled out quicker than a Von Miller spin move.

It has been only two games. That's the reminder the Broncos were quick to shout from their locker room Sunday after their 42-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, a win that showcased turnarounds the Broncos appear to have made in areas that were crippling weaknesses a season ago. Namely, an ability to run the ball and defend the run.

But the statistical climb with the biggest impact thus far in 2017 may be the rise the Broncos have made on third down. Only the Los Angeles Rams had a worse third-down conversion rate last season than Denver's mark of 34.2 percent. Too often, promising drives were torpedoed by failures on third downs of virtually any distance, lowlighted by a head-scratching 44.4 percent conversion rate on third-and-1. It was as if the Broncos picked out their groceries and scanned them through the register, only to realize they left their wallet at home.

This year has been a different story. When the Broncos visit Buffalo in their first road game of the season Sunday, they'll be bringing the best third-down offense in football. Denver has converted 17-of-30 such opportunities, a success rate of 56.7 percent.

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The biggest difference? That depends whom is asked.

"I think it's Trevor (Siemian)," Joseph said. "It's decision-making, and it's ball placement. Third downs are strictly on the quarterback. You're seeing exotic pressures versus four-man rush zones. It's all Trevor and, obviously, having great targets in (Demaryius Thomas), (Emmanuel Sanders) and Bennie (Fowler), who's been great on third downs also, and the tight ends. It's Trevor. He's been efficient, and he's been smart with the football."

Siemian's numbers on third down back his coach's claim. The second-year quarterback has completed 14-of-20 passes for 163 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. His 113.1 rating in those situations is the best in the league among players with at least 20 attempts, and seven different receivers have caught a pass from Siemian on third down that kept series alive.

Bills first-year head coach Sean McDermott was the defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers and was tasked with building a game plan to counter Siemian in his NFL debut last season. McDermott was impressed then with the way Siemian was able to navigate the game, and he has only seen more control this year.

"He's smart, and he does a lot in between plays at the line of scrimmage," McDermott said. "He knows where to go with the football based on coverage looks and gets them in and out of plays in the line. He's efficient that way."

Take the Broncos' first drive of the second half Sunday. Facing third-and-6 at his own 29-yard line, Siemian noticed gaps in the middle of the Cowboys' defense. He called an audible, trusting C.J. Anderson to pick up the first down on the ground. Anderson came through, and the Broncos kept marching. They converted all five of their third-down attempts on that drive, capped by a 2-yard touchdown pass from Siemian to tight end Virgil Green.

Siemian insists that a drive like that doesn't happen without an offense that is firmly on the same page.

"You want to be good in situational football across the board," he said. "When you're talking about that, that's an 11-man operation. It starts with the offensive line blocking. It starts with the receivers getting open and getting separation and the backs picking up pressures. One of the bigger things is that we've been in manageable third downs for the most part."

That the Broncos have consistently converted third-and-short situations — defined by 3 yards to gain or fewer — is encouraging given how much their offense struggled in those situations in 2016. The Broncos are 6-of-10 on third-and-short through two games. Their conversion rate of 43.1 percent in those spots last season was the worst in the league.

The Broncos know there are issues to correct. Two of their four turnovers and three of the six sacks they've allowed have come on third down. Plus, Denver was a respectable 10-of-21 on third down in the first two games last season, only to decline rapidly the rest of the way.

Still, they believe they have a sustainable plan to succeed in the highest-leverage situations.

"We're executing and sticking to the game plan, to the script of what we want to do," Anderson said. "I think Trev's putting the ball in the right places, and we're keeping him on his feet for the most part. It's early. We want to win (third down) every week. We'll start this week, win third down this week, and hopefully we can be No. 1 in Week 12, Week 13 and Week 14 of the season."

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